You already know The Classical Academy (TCA) is a public charter school that offers a classical education to students in grades K-12. But how it started and how it has grown are also very interesting pieces of The Classical Academy's history.

The Start

The Classical Academy began from the vision of Mary and Jim Kretchman. They had become concerned about the quality of education in their local public schools. They felt that many schools were failing to provide a challenging and meaningful education to their students, and they began exploring alternative educational models. One of the models they were particularly interested in was the classical education model, which had been used for centuries in Western civilization. Mary had attended a private school herself and was a founding staff member of a private classically-based school in Virginia. She and Jim decided they wanted to use that experience to create a high-quality public education experience in the Colorado Springs area.

They found like-minded families to partner with. The other co-founding families were Vance and Betsy Brown, Barry and Tamra Farah, Dwight and Sandra Grant, Ron and Catherine Mast, Rick and Lisa Mueller, Dale and Linda Schauer, Bobby and Ann Silva, and Steve and Vicky Tomberlin joined to contribute their unique gifts to the development of the dream.

The Model

Classical education is based on the Trivium, which consists of three stages: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. During the grammar stage, students learn the basic elements of language and how to use them correctly. In the logic stage, students learn how to reason and think critically. In the rhetoric stage, students learn how to communicate effectively and persuasively. The classical education model also emphasizes the study of literature, history, mathematics, science, and the arts, as well as character education.

The Growth

In the fall of 1997, the founders of The Classical Academy opened their first school, which served nearly 400 students in grades K-6. Each year, a new grade was added, and the school quickly grew in popularity. In 2002, the North campus was completed and continues to serve as an integrated K-12 campus.

In 1999, the Cottage School Program was started to serve families who prefer to homeschool. This program comes alongside those families and partners with them to supplement, not replace, the role of the parent as the primary educator.  In 2009, the College Pathways program was added as a hybrid online high school/college partnership for 7^th through 12 grade students.

Over the years, The Classical Academy has expanded its programs to include a full range of extracurricular activities, including athletics, music, drama, and clubs.

The Success

One of the keys to The Classical Academy's success has been its commitment to academic excellence. The school's curriculum is based on the Core Knowledge Sequence, which is a comprehensive, content-rich curriculum that emphasizes the development of strong reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. The school also uses a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, discussions, and hands-on projects, to engage students and help them learn. Students engage with rich academic content and the world of ideas in a way that invites relationship and encourages student voice. TCA remains dedicated to small classroom sizes to strengthen student’s learning experiences.

Another important factor in The Classical Academy History and its success has been its strong community support. Parents and faculty partner together to create “exemplary citizens” and grow students as a whole person, developing habits of mind, body, and spirit. Parents are invited to share their resources—time, talent, and treasure—to strengthen and support TCA. Parents volunteer over 35,000 hours annually.

Today and Beyond

Today, The Classical Academy serves over 3,500 students on three campuses in Colorado Springs. The school has earned numerous awards and accolades over the years, including the John Irwin Award for Academic Excellence in 2022 by the Colorado Department of Education (elementary, high school and College Pathways). The school has also been recognized for its strong academic performance, with students consistently scoring well above the state and national averages on standardized tests. All schools ranked in the top 15% by Colorado Grades Schools and the TCA High School and College Pathways Program have received The Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award for demonstrating exceptional student growth.

The success of The Classical Academy has inspired other schools around the country to adopt the classical education model. Today, there are hundreds of schools across the United States that offer a classical education to their students. The popularity of this model can be attributed in part to the growing recognition that traditional educational approaches are not meeting the needs of many students. By emphasizing critical thinking, character development, and a love of learning, the classical education model offers an alternative that can help students succeed academically and personally.

To learn more about The Classical Academy's history, our Core Values or other topics, please visit our website.